Locomotive smoke-box arrangement



Jan. 25 1927.

C. R. HARDY LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX ARRANGEMENT Filed June 20. 1925.

f/vAiPzfi #4,?! INVENTOR.

f ATTORNEY.

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Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNETED STATE-S PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES R. HARDY, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T THE SUPER-HEATER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE-BOX ARRANGEMENT.

Application filed June 20, 1925.

My invention relates to locomotives and has particular reference to thesteam piping arrangements in and around the smokebox of the locomotive,to provide the necessary steam supply to one or more of the numerousauxiliaries with which modern locomotives are equipped.

For the operation of some of the locomotive auxiliaries, such as feedwater and air pumps, live steam is required, while exhaust steam may beutilized by others such as feed water heaters or exhaust steaminjectors. In the case of the latter auxiliaries it is the usualpractice to obtain the necessary steam by a connection within thesmoke-box lead ing from the exhaust pipe of the main engine, while livesteam for the operation of the former is preferably obtained from withinthe smoke-box, where connection may be conveniently made to either thesaturated or superheated steam side of the superheater, as may bedesired.

As the auxiliaries referred to are placed on the outside of thelocomotive, it is necessary to lead the steam pipes through thesmoke-box shell, and because of the existing equipment already withinthe smoke-box, the sa isfactory arrangement of these steam pipes becomesa matter of considerable difficulty. Among the most difficult of theauxiliaries to install satisfactorily is the feed water heater, and itis in connection with the installation of such a heater of the surfaceor so-called closed type that I have illustrated the present invention.

In this form of apparatus the boiler feed water is pumped through a nestof tubes enclosed in a suitable casing to which is ad mitted a portionof the exhaust steam from the main engine of the locomotive, the feedwater being heated by condensing this steam. In order to dispose of thecondensate from the heater it is necessary that it be placed high enoughon the locomotive so that the condensate may drain by gravity into thetender tank, and this restriction, together with the restrictionsimposed by existing equipment already on the locomotive, hasnecessitated the placing of the heater at the forward end of thelocomotive and above the level of the water in the tender. Generally theheater has been placed transversely above the smoke-box shell ahead ofthe stack, but in this position the heater in some instances forms anobjectionable obstruction Serial No. 38,527.

to the vision of the locomotive engineer, and because of the relativeposition ofother elements of the locomotive equipment this location,while the best available, is not, in many instances, entirelysatisfactory.

It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide meanswhereby the steam piping to a heater or other auxiliary may besimplified and positioned in a more desirable manner with reference tothe other elements of the locomotive, and by virtue of thissimplification to make possible the location of a steam consumingauxiliary on the boiler shell at the rear of the stack. A further objectis to enable a heater to be placed longitudinally of the boiler andbehind the stack where it will in no way out down the line of visionfrom the locomotive cab. Another object of the invention is to provide apiping arrangement which will enable the steam supply pipes leading toan auxiliary to be retained in the smoke-box of the locomotive and tosimplify and improve the connections necessary to allow the pipes topass through the smoke-box shell. It is a further object to retain thesteam pipes within the smoke-box shell while at the same time in no wayinterfering with the existing equipment therein or obstructing access tothe forward tube sheet of the boiler from the front end of thelocomotive. It is also an object of the invention to reduce to a minimumthe possibility of air leakage into the smoke-box by reducing the numberof openings in the smoke-box shell necessary for the accommodations ofthe steam pipes which must lead therefrom. Other and further objects ofthe invention will appear in connection with the following detaileddescription of an embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevationpartly in section of the forward end of a locomotive, illustrating myinvention as applied to a feed water heater positioned behind the stack.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure l with the smoke-box coverremoved and cer* tain parts shown in section for clearness, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken through the locomotive stack, ofa modification of my invention as applied to a heater positionedtransversely in front of the stack.

Referring now to Figure 1, indicates the forward end of the locomotiveboiler,

and 11 the smoke-box thereof. The feed water heater 12 is of the usualclosed type, the interior details of which form no part of the presentinvention and which need not be described in detail. he heater issuitably mounted on top of the boiler 10, and receives steam for heatingpurposes through the inlet 13. Feed water from the pump l l is suppliedto the heater through pipe 15 and is delivered from the heater to theboiler through the tee l pipe 16, the exhaust steam from the feed pump1-ibeing ordinarily delivered to the heater through the conduit 17. Pipe18 carries the condensat from the heater by gravity to the tender orpump suction line.

The steam used to supply the heater is taken in accordance with theusual practice from the engine exhaust pipe 19 by means of the steampipes 20. it is necessary, in order that the smoke-box may be keptunobstructed for access to the forward boiler tube sheet, that the steampines 20 be kept away from the central portion of the section of thesmoke box, and in many instances these pipes are carried up to theheater outside of the smoke-box. Ordinarily the por tion of thesmoke-box in front of the exhaust pipe and stack is comparativelyunobstructed, but between the stack and the forward flue sheet the mainsteam pipes 21, leading from the boiler to the engine cylinders, and thesuperheater header 21 and units 21, preclude the possibility of bringingthe steam pipes 20 up to the heater inside the smoke-box shell betweenthe stack and the flue sheet.

As may readily be seen from Figure 1- with the heater in the positionbehind the stack, it is necessary for the steam supply pipe thereto tobe carried to a position be hind the stack and the present inventionprovides means whereby a satisfactory and practical steam connection maybe male between the exhaust pipe and the heater, which will leave thesteam pipes in a desirable position and at the same time make possible asimplification of the piping where it passes through the smoke-boxshell.

.Z-lCCOIdlllg' to my invention as illustrated in Figure 1, the steampipes 20 are brought up inside the smoke-box shell forward of the stackin the comparatively clear space which is there available and as shownin Figure 2, the pipes 20 are brought upward near the periphery of thesmoke-box where by the clearance for access to the boiler tube sheet isnot reduced, as the pipes 20 do not extend inward from the smoke-boxwall further than the steam pipes 21.

In order to br' the steam line supplying the heater through thesmoke-box shell, the ordinar holes through which the steam pipes wouldpass are dispensed with, and the steam connection to the heater on theoutside of the boiler is made through a i'nember passing through theaperture in the smolu box shell provided for the stack. As shown inFigure 1, the usual opening 22 in the top of the smoke-box shell overwhich the stack is positioned, is made somewhat larger than the stackdiameter. The stack may be constructed in the usual manner having theordinary skirt portion 24 extending through the opening in the smoke-boxshell. Around the stack is the supporting member to which the stack issuitably fastened, and which is ordinarily formed with a flanged portion26 secured to the sm ire-box shell. l n the form oi? my invention hereillustrated this member is formed with a passage 27 therein in the formof an interrupted aunir lus having suitable openings 28 at the i'orwardend thereof to which are secured the upper ends of the steam pipes 20,these open ings, as may readily be seen from Figure 1, openingdownwardly into the interior of the smoke-box. At the rear of the stackthe passage 27 is provided with an upwardly extending opening 29, whichis, in the embodimentshown, extended upwardly in the form of an integralconduit 80 connecting with the steam inlet of the heater, although itit) may readily be understood that the passage 2'? may terminate in aconnection at 29 above the flanged portion 26 of member 25, with. aseparate pipe connecting the opening 29 with the heater inlet 13.

By means of this construction it is possible to keep the steam pipes 20in the comparatively clear forward portion of the smoke-box where theymay follow closely the outline of the smoke-box shell and form noobstruction to access to the boiler. At the same time it is possible toretain these pipes within the smoke-box where they are subjected to thehigh temperatures of the furnace gases passing therethrough, thusminimizing heat losses from these pipes and preventing condensation ofthe steam passing to the heater. The necessity for the heavy laggingnecessary for outside steam pipes is also eliminated.

The usual difliculties encountered in bringing steam pipes through thecylindrical surface of the smoke-box is also avoided and a singleconnection is formed between the outlet from the member 25 and theheater. It will be readily apparent that the annular passage 27 need notbe made integral with the member 25 but may be in the form of a separateconduit below the level of the flange 26 connecting therewith at thepoint of the opening 29. In other words, one of the pipes 20 may beomitted it desired, and it conditions within the smokebox permit, theconnection 28 may be nearer the point 29 than is shown in F igure 1, thepipe 20 being made correspondingly longer. In any event, however, theflanged portion 26 of the member 25 forms the portion of the steam.passage where it passes through the smoke-box shell and the usual doubleconnection at this point eliminated, the only connections in the steamline being the ordinary flat flanged connections at 28, and similarconnections between the outlet 29 and the heater.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated a modification showing my invention asattached in an installation where the heater is placed transversely ofthe locomotive ahead of the stack. in this instance, the member 25 isformed with an annulus 27 which extends around the forward portion ofthe stack rather than the rear portion. In this instance the steam pipes20 are connected to the openin s 28 which correspond to the openings 28in the form shown in Figure 1. The outletopening 29 is in this instanceahead of the stack and connects at 13 with the body of the heater 12. Asshown in the modified form, it is not necessary to carry the steam pipesbehind the line ofthe stack, but by the use of my invention it ispossible to bring the pipes 20 up through the interior of the smoke-boxand to bring the steam connection therethrough without providing anyadditional opening in the smoke-box other than that which is normally 7required for the stack. As in the form shown in Figure 1, all openingsthrough curved surfaces in the smoke-box are eliminated and the steamconnections leading from the exhaust pipe to the heater are materiallysimplified.

The application of the present invention results in advantages not onlyin the manner in which the steam connections may be carried through thesmoke-box, but by the elimination of additional openings in thesmoke-box shell through which the steam pipes must be carried, thepossible leakage of air into the smoke-box through such openings iseliminated. Ordinarily open ings through the cylindrical shell of thesmoke-box through which steam pipes are carried are difiicult to keeptight and result in air leakage which has a detrimental effect on thedrafting of the locomotive.

My invention also makes possible the improvement. in the appearance ofthe locomotive by enabling pipes which otherwise would have to becarried outside the locomotive shell to be brought upward insidethereof.

It is to be clearly understood that the foregoing description isillustrative only and is not to be taken in a limiting sense as it willbe obvious that many changes and variations in the specific structureillustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described,

a" locomotive smoke-box having the usualflange supported stack andengine exhaust pipe therein, a boiler tube sheet at the rear of saidsmoke-box, engine steam pipes ex' tending downwardly substantially atthe periphery of and through said smoke-box forward of the'fiue sheet,an exhaust steam consumer located outside the walls of said smokebox anda steam pipe leading from said exhaust pipe to said consumer, said'pipelocomotive smoke-box having the usual flange supported stack and engineexhaust pipe therein, a boiler tube sheet at the rear oi said smoke-box,engine steam pipes extending downwardly substantially at the peiiphcryof and through said smoke-box forward of the line sheet, an exhauststeam consnmer located outside the w lls of said smokebox, and abifurcated steam pipe lea ding from said exhaust pipe to said consumer,the branches of said bifurcated pipe extending' upwardly through saidsmokebox, substantially at the periphery thereof forward of said enginesteam pipes and delivering steam to said consumer through a commonpassage extending through said stack supporting flange, whereby thecentral portion of said smokebox is left unobstructed by said branchesfor access to said tube sheet.

In apparatus of the class described, a smoke-box shell having anaperture therein for the reception of the locomotive stack, said stackincluding a flanged supporting member positioned over said aperture, asteam consumer located outside the smokebox, a source of steam locatedwithin the smokebox, and a steam passage leading from said steam sourceto said consumer, said passage including a portion integral with saidflanged member and passing there-through.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive stack supportingmember having a central opening through which the locomotive stackpasses and a flanged portion adapted to be positioned over an aperturein a smoke-box shell, said flanged portion including a steam passageextending therethrough.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive stack supportingmember having a central opening through which the locomotive stackpasses and a flanged portion adapted to be positioned over an aperturein a smoke-box shell, said flanged portion having an openingthere-through forming a portion of a steam passage integral with saidmember.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive stack supportingmember having a central opening through which a locomotive stack passes,a flanged portion adapted to be positioned over an aperture in asmokebox shell, said member including a bifurcated steam passageextending from a point above said flanged portion through the latter,around said stack, and terminating in a pair of steam connections belowsaid flange.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive smoke-box shellhaving an aperture therein, a locomotive stack passing through saidaperture, said aperture having a dimension substantially larger than thediameter of said stack, whereby an opening is provided between saidstack and shell, and a stack supporting member having a flanged portionoverlapping said shell to close said opening and including a steampassage integral with the flanged portion and extending there-through.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive smoke-box shellhaving a stack passing there-through, an engine exhaust pipe locatedunder said stack, a feed water heater located outside the smoke-boxlongitudinally behind said stack, a supporting member surrounding saidstack and having a flanged portion resting on said shell, said memberhaving a bifurcated steam passage therein terminating at one end in asteam connection outside said smoke-box connected to said heater, andterminating at its other ends in a pair of steam connections within saidsmoke-box, and pipes supplying steam from said exhaust pipe to said lastmentioned connections.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a locomotive smoke-box shellhaving a stack passing there-through, an engine exhaust pipe locatedunder said stack, a feed water heater located outside the smoke-boxlongitudinally behind said stack, a supporting member surrounding saidstack and having a flanged portion resting 011 said shell, said memberhaving a steam passage therein comprising a pair of branches opening attheir forward ends within the smoke-box forward of the center of saidstack, extending around said stack at either side thereof and joining ina single branch extending through said flange at the rear of said stack,a connection from said latter branch to said heater, and a pair of steampipes connecting said exhaust pipe with said branches, said pipesextending upwardly within said smoke-box near the periphery thereof andforward of the center of said stack.

CHARLES It. HARDY.

